FSC Approves AP RFSS: A New Opportunity for Smallholders in Asia-Pacific

Expanding Inclusive and Efficient Forest Certification for Small-Scale Producers

On 18 July 2025, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) officially approved the Asia-Pacific Regional Forest Stewardship Standard (AP RFSS) as a full forest management standard. This decision marked the transition from its pilot status to an official certification framework, effective 1 July 2025, following four years of trials in countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and India.

AP RFSS has been developed specifically for smallholders and small-scale forest managers, aiming to overcome long-standing barriers related to the complexity and cost of conventional FSC certification.

Why AP RFSS Matters

Throughout the Asia-Pacific region, many smallholders manage forest areas under 5 hectares, often with limited resources and technical skills. The traditional FSC standard has been seen as too complicated for these situations.

AP RFSS addresses these challenges through a more practical and context-adapted approach. Its main features include:

• Clearer and simplified language

• Flexible and proportionate compliance requirements

• More affordable and streamlined audit processes

• Emphasis on field-applicable sustainability practices

This tailored approach enables broader participation in sustainable forest management and certification, particularly among smallholder communities.

Promising Outcomes from the Pilot Stage

Since its pilot launch in 2021, AP RFSS has produced promising results:

• Over 68 audits conducted across four countries

• Approximately 57,000 hectares of smallholder-managed land certified in Indonesia and Vietnam

• Positive feedback from farmer groups regarding the relevance and practicality of the standard

• Opened pathways for certification of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and ecosystem services

These results played a key role in FSC’s decision to officially endorse AP RFSS as a complete standard for the Asia-Pacific region.

Strategic Importance for Indonesia

As a country with great potential in smallholder forestry, Indonesia can gain significantly from adopting AP RFSS, especially among:

• Forest Farmer Groups (Kelompok Tani Hutan/KTH)

• Forestry cooperatives and agroforestry communities

• Social forestry programmes and indigenous forest managers

This new standard provides a more accessible pathway to international certification, helping smallholders meet market demands for legal and sustainable forest products and boosting their competitiveness in global supply chains.

How Peterson Solutions (Indonesia) Can Support

As a trusted partner in sustainability and certification services, Peterson Solutions (Indonesia) is ready to assist organisations, cooperatives, and smallholders in adopting and achieving FSC certification through AP RFSS.

Our services include:

1. Technical assistance for AP RFSS compliance Supporting documentation, procedures, and field practices aligned with FSC indicators.

2. Training for farmers and forest management groups Delivering accessible training materials tailored to practical application.

3. Pre-audit assessments and certification readiness Conducting mock audits to identify gaps and ensure preparedness for formal audits.

4. Support for NTFP and ecosystem service development Helping identify and develop sustainable business opportunities for added value.

With a context-driven approach and proven on-the-ground experience, Peterson Solutions (Indonesia) is dedicated to making FSC certification more accessible, relevant, and impactful for smallholders and local communities.

Source: https://fsc.org/en/newscentre/general-news/asia-pacific-regional-forest-stewardship-standard-for-smallholders-now-an